SDSU announces 2026 Distinguished Alumni

Three graduates from the 1970s, two graduates from the 1980s and a nontraditional graduate from the 1990s comprise the six Jackrabbits who have risen to the top of their fields and have been selected for the 2026 Class of Distinguished Alumni by the South Dakota State University Alumni & Foundation.

They are:

• Keith Bartels, Classes of ’67 and ’74, Brookings

• Kevin Haarberg, Class of ’79, Woodland, California

• Doug Hofer, Class of ’72, Pierre

• Joan Hogan, Class of ’94/M.S. ’99, Brookings

• Mike Huether, Class of ’84, Sioux Falls

• Debra Muller, Class of ’83, Sioux Falls

• Bartels retired in 2007 as vice president of Martin and Associates, an electrical engineering consulting firm in Mitchell. He originally earned a degree in economics. 

After serving in the military, he returned to campus to earn a degree in electrical engineering. Late in his career, Bartels became very active on behalf of his alma mater. 

In 2018, he received the Jerome J. Lohr Volunteer Leadership Award to recognize his support of the SDSU Foundation. 

• Haarberg earned his degree in pharmacy and became a salesman of pharmaceutical products after college. He found his niche when he joined Edward Jones as a financial adviser. 

He consistently ranks in the top 10 advisers among the 20,000 Edward Jones advisers in the nation and for 25 years was a general partner. 

Haarberg and his wife, Lorie, have given more than $3 million toward cancer research at SDSU.

• Hofer earned a degree in park management and, in 1972, right out of college, he was hired by the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks to prepare a comprehensive outdoor recreation plan. 

He wouldn’t retire from the agency until April 1, 2016, serving as state park director for 31 years. 

Career highlights include development of Mickelson Trail in the Black Hills, establishment of Good Earth State Park near Sioux Falls, and expansion of boating access and campgrounds along Missouri River Reservoirs.

• Hogan, the wife of the late distinguished geography professor, Ed Hogan, didn’t enroll at SDSU until fall 1992 at age 49, when her youngest child also left for college. The business owner and “Prairie Doc” producer earned a bachelor’s degree in communications and theater and a master’s degree in communications and journalism. 

She spent five years on the SDSU faculty and has excelled in community service throughout her 59 years in Brookings.

• Huether earned a degree in commercial economics and built a career at Citibank in South Dakota, New York and Texas, along with PREMIER Bankcard in Sioux Falls. He left corporate America to pursue public service, a dream he’d held since sixth grade in his hometown of Yankton.

Huether served two terms as mayor of Sioux Falls (2010-2018), proving “government can get things done.” He is the co-benefactor of the Mike Huether Public Service Academy at SDSU.

• Muller, an economics grad, had a 30-year career with Avera Health Plans as chief executive officer and founding executive. She scaled membership from 22,000 to 140,000, managed a $2 billion integrated claims portfolio and lead initiatives that reduced South Dakota’s uninsured rate. 

Previously, as state director of Health Policy and Planning, she orchestrated the nation's first public telemedicine payment methodology and championed rural health access initiatives. 

She recently established the Debra Muller Scholarship in Healthcare Systems Engineering in the Jerome J. Lohr College of Engineering.

The Distinguished Alumni will be honored during activities on Hobo Day weekend Oct. 23-24.

For more information on the Alumni & Foundation’s Legends & Leaders event, go to:  https://www.sdstatealumnifoundation.org/events/distinguished-alumni.